Former Ireland international and Celtic and Sunderland footballer Anthony Stokes was handed a 15-month jail term in Dublin Tuesday over a 4,000-euro ($4,400) cocaine seizure after a car chase with police.
The 36-year-old was arrested in January last year following a late-night high-speed car chase in Dublin while over the alcohol limit.
He drove at 160 kilometres (99 miles) per hour during the 10-minute-long chase with police and nearly collided with another motorist, according to a police report.
Stokes also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of almost 4,000 euros of cocaine hidden in wraps inside a sock, and having the drug for sale or supply.
The Dublin District Court heard how Stokes had battled with addiction issues since his teenage years.
The player had two previous convictions for assault against a nightclub carpark attendant in 2013, and stalking an ex-partner that saw him jailed for five months earlier this year.
Stokes began playing for Sunderland in 2006 when he was 17 and went on to appear 135 times and score 58 goals for Celtic in the Scottish league between 2010 and 2016.
He earned nine international caps with Ireland between 2007 and 2014.
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